The Browns are expected to make Chudzinski's firing official early this week, a source told Mortensen.

Chudzinski was hired Jan. 11 after the Browns fired Pat Shurmur less than a year ago. The Browns, including owner Jimmy Haslam, became convinced they made a mistake and did not want to continue down their current path with Chudzinski, sources said.

The Browns plan to commence their head coaching search immediately. Last year they interviewed Bill O'Brien, Ken Whisenhunt and Chip Kelly, whom they regret not being able to hire.

The Browns finished 4-12 in Chudzinski's only season as coach, finishing the season with a 20-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Afterward, Chudzinski called it simply "a difficult day," and added there has been no discussion with the front office about his job status.

Some players, though, rallied around the first-year coach.

"It's just absurd to me that a report would be out like that, about a good coach like that," Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. "It's crazy, and that (ticked) me off when I heard that."

Chudzinski had to deal with an unsettled quarterback situation as the Browns started three different players at the position, going with Brandon Weeden in the season opener, turning to Brian Hoyer shortly afterward before he suffered a season-ending knee injury and ending the season with veteran Jason Campbell.

This will represent the third time the Browns have gotten rid of Chudzinski, who grew up a Browns fan in Toledo, Ohio.

Chudzinski coached the Browns tight ends for Butch Davis in 2004, and then returned to the team in '07, when he served two seasons as offensive coordinator under Romeo Crennel.